SUMMER MANAGEMENT. 239 



found that if the laying-house is kept quite dark, 

 hens are not so apt to indulge in this evil pro- 

 pensity: absence of lime frequently causes it, 

 and once the habit is acquired, it is impossible 

 to cure it effectually. Many recommend chalk 

 nest-eggs, but I have tried them without any 

 good result. 



As some of my readers may wish to diminish 

 the expense of their poultry-keeping, I suggest 

 their sending early chickens to market. If good 

 enough — that is, with straight breast bones, 

 white legs, are fat and plump, and of fair size 

 for birds hatched in January and February — the 

 highest prices for such are to be obtained in 

 London; but even in country towns the value 

 of early chickens is very fairly estimated, and a 

 remunerative price freely given. The importa- 

 tions of eggs and poultry from the Continent 

 are enormous, and if it pays to breed poultry 

 abroad, surely it might be made equally profit- 

 able in our own country. Establishments have 

 been lately organised to try the effect of rearing 

 poultry on a large scale. Time will, I hope, 

 enable these philanthropists to show a fair 



